Con Coughlin is the Telegraph's Defence Editor and a world-renowned expert on global security and terrorism issues. He is the author of several critically acclaimed books. His new book, Churchill's First War: Young Winston and the fight against the Taliban, is published by Macmillan in London and Thomas Dunne Books in New York. He appears regularly on radio and television in Britain and America.

At last, a Question Time that was actually worth watching

What a pleasant surprise to tune in to Question Time last night and find a panel that was actually worthy of this once great flagship programme. In its heyday, when the late Sir Robin Day chaired the discussion, you could always expect a lively, informative and well-argued debate amongst a carefully selected group of politicians, academics, journalists and religious leaders who actually knew what they were talking about.

By comparison, the modern programme tends to attract second-rate, self-serving actors like Steve Coogan who are more interested in airing petty grievances than indulging in grown-up debate. I am sure I am not alone in changing channels the moment these dreary dead-beats appear on screen.

But last night we had that rare treat – a Question Time panel that not only contained thoughtful, articulate contributors, with the exception of the ludicrous Polly Toynbee, but sustained a lively discussion on Baroness Thatcher's legacy for the programme's entire duration.

Ming Campbell, who surprisingly gave a stirring defence of Lady T's confrontation with the unions in the 1980s, showed why he would still make a more convincing leader of the Lib Dems than the clueless Nick Clegg, while the ding-dong between Ken Clarke and David Blunkett over the Thatcher government's replacement of old Labour's statist industrial base with a flexible market economy was a joy to behold.

Suddenly you realised that, despite all the attempts at reform undertaken during the Blair era, die-hard socialists like Blunkett are still wedded to the obsolete – and unworkable – doctrine of state control. Our own, beloved Charles Moore, meanwhile, highlighted the fatuousness of La Toynbee's interjections to the extent that, by the programme's end, she had been reduced to an irrelevant onlooker. A triumph indeed!

My only regret is that, having enjoyed last night's edition, I fear it will be a long time before we are treated to another discussion of similar quality. Next week, for example, the comedian Griff Rhys Jones will be appearing on the panel. I just can't wait to hear the goofy actor's insights on reforming the eurozone, tackling rogue states like North Korean and Iran, or whatever other big issues that happen to be dominating the news agenda next week.